Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1887-06-23
TACOMA'6 FOURTH.

The citizens of Tacoma have, with a
laudable pride, determined to celebrate
the completion Of the Northern Pacific
to their town, and have selected ma.
tional day for such celebration. They
have sent special invitations TO members
Of the press TO be present on the occasion
aud partake of their free hospitality
throughout the entire celebration whe,h.
er it be for one, two or three days,
They have done all that the generous
people Of any town could, with reason, be
asked to DC. This was done doubtless
with the expectations that the members
Of the press, who are from abroad, would
have something to say to their readers
10 commentator OF the city of Tacoma
and its advantages as commercial point
in connection with its being the terminus
Of the N. p. railroad, and a shipping
point for the products raised in Eastern
Washington and all the western slope of
the Rocky mountains. All this is COM
mendaLle ia high degree. But what
encouragement is furnished by the
Northern Pacific railroad company to the
press to induce them to urge their con.
stituences to patronize the Northern
Pacific. They do not offer to furnish
the press with free tickets to Tacoma or
ha!ffare tickets to the press or any one
else, or to give them round-trip tickets
at reduced rates as one induccment to
90 and SEQ the advantages of the road
for themselves aud to speak of their
advantages to others who might be in
duced TO patronize their road in case they
found it to their advantage to ship by their
line. Ia contrast with this we find a
rival company advertising round trip
from oil this eastern country to Portland
to be made in eight days, at greatly re-
duced ratcs-$l0 head and to include
the 18th of July. But the N. p,
state that the inter state commerce law
forbids their doing so. Do they pre-
tend that they are forbidden to make a
reduction my more than is the Union
Pacific and O. r. Il N, who have made
special reduced rates for the same period.
We cannot by any manner Of reasoning
perceive that the interstate commerce
law restricts the N. p, any more than
it does the Union Pacific or the 0. r. &
N. Co., in these matters. 1t must be
true that the difference then ia in the
disposition of the two arrangements.
One is evidently bidding for patronage
while the other is disposed to say to the
press and the people, if you want to see
the relative advantages of Portland and
Tacoma, or Of the routes you must pay
over the N p, the full fare and be at
your own expenses in going and coming.
It is not to be presumed that the N. p,
furnish the means to entertain any
portion Of the press, which is SO literally
offered by the Board OF Trade and citizen MS
Of Tacoma. We are aware that Willard
expended much in the celebration of the
driving of the last spike on the summit
Of tho Rockies. But the event Of driving
the last spike on the switchback, which
connects tho east with the west is Of far
more importance than passing the sum
NIT Of the Rockies, and deserving of as
much notice BY the press and the people
~ the crossing Of the Rockies, and the
company should be as liberal to the
public and its organs as they were when
Willard drove the last spike on the
summit of the Rockies.